Speaking today, Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson on Dublin City Council, Cllr. Daithí Doolan said:

“It is clear that the ruling alliance in Dublin City Council misled the council and the public on O’Devaney Gardens. This is totally unacceptable. The alliance of Fianna Fáil, Greens, Labour and Social Democrats made a claim that there was a deal to deliver social and affordable homes.

“This claim has now proven to be false. In a letter to the Lord Mayor, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy confirms no funds are available for this deal. No meeting even took place to discuss funding this new deal.

“We raised these concerns during the recent debate on their proposed deal. We expressed concerns about where this funding was coming from.

“Sinn Féin will be contacting other parties to discuss holding a special meeting of Dublin City Council to discuss these revelations.

“We opposed this deal because we believed it could not and would not deliver affordable housing or decent community gains. That view is proven to be correct.

“Our alternative proposal to allow Dublin City Council be the lead developer still stands. It would deliver one third council,  one third affordable to buy and one third cost rental with strong community gain.”

North-Inner City Cllr. Janice Boylan said:

“Residents feel very let down by these revelations. They are the real losers in the alliance’s game of political football.

“Sinn Féin have always sought the best deal possible for the local community. Our proposals were based on fact not fiction. I have always been open and honest about proposals to develop this site.

“Our community need this developed as soon as possible. But a deal based on falsehoods will never deliver homes or services.”